introduction

[tjd_45]

I have just registered on the site. I have suffered from various anxiety and panic related disorders for since i was 14 (twenty years of it now). Over the years there have been some periods of relief but a lot of downs as well. The original manifestation was in the hypochondria sphere. I remember reading an article in a local newspaper about a number of menigitis cases that had occurred and suddenly i was convinced that i had it. In spite of the fact i have never had a headache in my life i was convinced that i had. Numerous doctors and ER visits followed but nothing was ever found. Over the years it would develop into other others and i lived in a state of virtual constant 'flight or flight' for a number of years. Finally i managed to get some help when i was 23 when of my own accord a visited a psychologist, since the doctors only ever attempted to treat the 'symptoms' that i presented with in spite of the sheer volume of visits, as i was completely unable to function at that point and was worried about losing my job. She initially prescribed seroxat which certainly lifted my mood. Eventually she diagnosed me on the OCD end of the spectrum and over the years things got better and it was mostly good. Then about three years ago i moved job and country and have ended up half the world away from home without the support structures that i have been used too. Initially everything was going great. New relationship,good work no anxiety or panic attacks for a number of years. Then after a particularly bumpy flight(i also have a fear of flying which is purely a control issue ) the panic attacks returned with a vengeance. I ended up in the ER again(didn't initially think it was a panic attack but then i never do...) and so began the latest struggle with them. That was about a year ago and since then i have once again been trying to deal with the panic on a regular basis. When going through a bad time of it last week i came across the forum and  i started to feel better when reading some of the posts here and realising that i was not alone with this. I am hoping that by sharing the issues and providing support to others in similar situations then perhaps i can once again return to an up phase. I don't hold out any hope for ever fully conquering this but i believe that with support i can certainly manage to cope with it and live a life which can be filled with moments of happiness as well as the more prevalent panic.

[Cuchculan]

Welcome to the forum. Good to have you as a member. Here you are with like minded people. People who understand. As we all suffer from something or other. So feel free to ask any questions. Our members are always willing to help others out. Good chatroom too. 3 posts to enter the room.

Find the correct section of the forum that suits your condition and create a new topic on it. This is just a welcome section. Never really get the same amount of help in this section as you would on the other sections of the forums. So whatever one suits the questions you are asking. Get much better answers.

All users of the chatroom must be 18 years old or over. The room is off limits to anybody under the age of 18.